Submersible toy



Jam, 1933. L, RANNEY 1,893,000

SUBMERSIBLE TOY Filed July 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Leo Ranneg BYQ, 0M,

ATTORNEYS L. RANNEY SUBMERSIBLE TOY Jan. 3, 1933.

Filed July 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J INVENTOR Leo RCHIHQB x w 7 BY 3 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES LEO RANNEY, OF NEW YORK, 11'. Y.

SUBMERSIIBLE TOY Application filed July 5, 1929. Serial No. 376,243.

This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to submersible aquatic toys.

Toys have heretofore been devised which are submersible, and which are capable of rising in the water, but most of these toys are relatively complex and expensive to manufacture. One object of m invention resides in the provision of a simp e submersible toy simulating, for example, a fish, which may be caused to rise in the water.

Another object of the present invention is to make it possible for the submersible toy to rise and to be self-propelled through the water, all from a single source of power. To this end I supply gas, which may most simply be air, to the toy while it is submerged in order to cause it to rise to the surface of the water, and thereafter I continue to supply gas to the toy in order to propel it along the surface of the water. The air or gas first increases the buoyancy of the toy by displacin water, and afterward may be further utilized to obtain the desired propulsion, preferably, but not necessarily, by permitting the escaping bubbles to rise and expand in contact with the bottom sideof an inclined surface attached to the toy, in a manner disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 276,244, filed concurrently herewith.

A still further object of my invention is to utilize the foregoing properties of the submersible toy in a realistic and amusing manner, and with this in view I use in combination with the submersible toy another toy simulating a fisherman, and I make the air supply tube for the submersible toy extend from the fisherman to the toy in simulation of a fishing line. The submersible toy may be made in the form of a fish, or in the form of any object which a fisherman might catch on his line, whether desired or undesired. A source of gas or air is connected to the tube at the end held by the fisherman, and conse quently the submerged toy rises to the surface of the water, as though brought up by the fisherman. When the submersible toy, say a fish, is further equipped with propulsion means, it will swim as though trying to escape from the line.

Even more amusing is a complete toy which I have devised in which the fisherman is seated in a toy boat, preferably, though not necessarily, holdin a relatively stifi" tube in simulation of a shing pole, from the end of which the fishing line is extended, for in such case the swimming fish will tow the fisherman and boat after it, and, of course, the toy fish is readily made sufficiently large, relative to the fisherman, so that this result seems plausible as well as amusing.

A still further object of my invention is to provide in combination with the aforementioned toys a source of air for their actuation which will be exceedingly simple and cheap, and further, which will not interfere 5a with the swimming and/ or tow ng operations already outlined. To accomplish this I utilize an inflatable elastic air bladder or sac, much resembling rubber top balloons in common use, and this may be inflated by the child and thereafter connected to operate the toy. This bladder may be made relatively elongated and painted up or decorated to resemble a boat or fish or other object.

Another object of my invention is to make the submersible toy deflatable or collapsible, if desired, and yet to provide it with propulsion means, and a still further object is to make possible the simultaneous operation of several submersible toys with a single so propulsion means. Additional objects of this invention are to arrange the toys so that they will rise and bob out of the water nose first, in an amusing manner, and so that they will thereafter perform in some manner, as snorting or blowing air onto the water, or making a noise, and the like.

To the accom lishment of the foregoing and such other 0 jects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the toy eleis indicated by the dotted position ments and their relation one to the other as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a submersible toy, a toy fisherman and boat, and an inflatable air bladder, in assembled relationship;

Fig. 2 illustrates a collapsible submersible toy resting on the bottom in deflated condition' Fig. 3 represents the same toy after it has been inflated and has risen to the surface of the water;

Fig. 4 illustrates the operation of several submersible toys in tandem;

Fig. 5 is a section taken in the plane of the 'line 5-5 in Fig. 4; I Fig. 6 shows a toy which expels azr at the water surface; and Fig. 6a is. a sectional view taken on the line Gil-6a of Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is a toy which makes a noise after rising to the surface of the water.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings there is a submersible toy 2, connected through a tube 4 to a gas or air supply source 6. The toy 2 is preferably, but not necessarily, made of hollow celluloid, in a manner now common with inactive floating toys, and is provided with an air nipple 8 and a discharge opening 10. The toy, when placed in the water with the source 6 deflated or disconnected, is readily filled with water and submerged, as 2'. When the source 6 is connected to the tube 4 gas is fed to the toy, and displaces water therefrom, thereby increasing its buoyancy, and causing it to rise to the surface, assuming the position numbered 2.

The toy may be provided with propulsion means, which preferably are also made responsive to the gas supply. The propulsion means may take the form of a simple backwardly directed discharge nozzle just at the surface of the water so that the greater part of the gas discharged blows against the water, but I prefer to make it in the form disclosed in my copending application, already mentioned, for which purpose the toy is provided with an inclined surface member 12, which referably is like an inverted trough in confi guration, and the discharge openin 10 is connected with the lower underside o the surface member 12 by a tube 14. If the member 12 is not sufiiciently heavy to properly ballast the toy additional ballast 16 may be provided.

The air supplied to the submerged toy, assuming that air is used, first expels water therefrom, and causes the toy to rise. After the water has been expelled air begins to escape, the bubbles of air tending to rise, and their 'ressure against the inclined member 12 prope ls that member, and with it the toy 2,

along in the water. to expand as they rise, pulsion effect.

The complete arrangement may also include a toy fisherman, 20, holding the tube 4 as a fishing line, on which the fish is apparently caught, and from which it seeks to escape. Even more desirably, the fisherman 20 may be seated in a toy boat or canoe 22. As another optional feature the fisherman 20 may be provided with a relatively stiff tube 24, simulating a fishing pole, while the flexible tube 4, simulating the fishin line, is attached to the end of the fishing po e. The boat 22 may be suitably ballasted by a keel 26, in order to insure stability thereof. The source 6 then is connected to the lower end of the tube 24, through another flexible tube 28, of suitable length, this tube being shown broken in the drawings, to save space.

The source 6, for the sake of simplicity and economy, and also to permit movement thereof with the toys, may best consist merely of an inflatable elastic air bladder or toy balloon, which may be inflated through the neck 30, and thereafter connected to the tube 28. Several such balloons may be connected in series, if it is desired to increase the duration of the air supply. The balloons may be in the form of large fishing baskets, sail blcliats, fish, floating islands or any other s ape.

From the preceding descri tion it will be apparent that the fish will rst rise to the surface of the water, as though caught by the fisherman, and thereafter will swim away, attempting to escape, and in so doing will tow the fisherman and his boat along behind it. The bladder 6 may also trail along, if necessary, until the available air supply is exhausted.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown a modified form of submersible toy in which the toy is made of thin flexible rubber, not unlike a toy balloon, and which therefore is deflatable or collapsible. In the particular case illuswhich aids in the protrated the submersible toy also simulates a fish, numbered 40, and is provided at its bottom with a neck 42 in which there is fixed one end of a tube 44, the other end 46 of which is bent around in a rearward and upward direction. To the upper side of the end 46 .there is fixed an inverted trough-like surface 48. The fish may be additionally ballasted by a weight 50, and to any suitable place in the fish, and preferably at the mouth thereof, an air inlet which an air supply tube 4 may be slip d in the manner previously described. 11 the case of these or any other'of the toys the ni ple may stay with the flexible tube and iinserted' into the toy or bladder with a close It is obvious that in operation the fish 40 may be submerged in deflated condition, as in nipple 52 may be attached, over' The bubbles also tend as is illustrated in Fig. 3. After the fish has risen to the surface of the water bubbles of additionally escaping air will rise and expend in contact with the member 48, and so propel the fish along in the'water.

It is obvious that if desired the fish need not be provided with propulsion means, in

which case no discharge opening 42 or tube is necessary. When the discharge tube is provided the air entering the fish causes a slight initial inflation thereof, suflicient to cause the body of the fish to rise to a slightly higher level than the weighted discharge tube 46, after which the inflation safely proceeds before much, if any, air escapes, owing to the greater depth and consequently greater water pressure at the discharge end of the tube. When the inflation of the fish is carried forward to an extent such that the walls of the fish restrain further expansion the air then escapes from the tube 46 and is effective to cause the fish to swim.

The fish may be provided with a weight 51, instead of, or in addition to the weight 50, the weight 51 being positioned near the tail of the fish. This causes the fish to rise nose first and bob out of the water in an amusing manner.

As a modification I may here mention that in the case of this inflatable type of fish, when not provided with propulsion means, the walls may, if desired, be made exceedingly thin, so that the fish after rising may be distended until it bursts at the surface of the water. It may also carry objects within itself, for example, a tiny toy man, or some toy fish which will float around on the surface of the water after the fish has burst.

Adverting now to Figs. 4 and 5, I have there illustrated a slightly modified form of inflatable fish, numbered 60. This fish is designed to be filled with water and submerged or is collapsible, like that described in Figs. 2 and 3, and carries a discharge tube 62, and an inclined inverted trough shaped surface 64, in order to provide propulsion for the toy. In this case, however, premature discharge of air from the tube 62 is guarded against by the provision of a flap valve 66, consisting of a small sheet of rubber one end of which, 68, is cemented to the member 64. The slight resistance of the flap valve against bending, augmenting the external water pressure applied thereagainst, keeps the flap valve closed until the fish has been inflated sufliciently to assume its shape. When the Wall resistance of the fish begins to be felt the air opens the flap valve 66 and escapes under the trough 64, thereby propelling the fish along the water. In passing it may be noted that this fish is ballasted by a weight 70 clamped to a fin 72 of the fish, as is further illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings; or the wei ht 7 0 may be attached to the propelling mec anism, for instance to the bottom of the tube 62.

In Fi 4 I have also indicated how several submerslble toys may be arranged in tandem or series, and how one of such to s may be provided with propulsion means or towing several of the toys along. In the case illustrated there is an additional fish 80, which also is of the deflatable type, but which is provided with no discharge opening. The

sh is connected through a tube 82 to the feeder tube 62 of the fish 60.

In operation, both deflated toys are immersed andl fall to the bottom. When air is fed throu h the tube 4 it begins to inflate the fish 80, nd subsequently, thru tube 82, the fish 60. The fish 80 is inflated first, probably owing to-the frictional resistance in the tube 82, and the fish 80 rises to the surface of the water but does not swim. The Y branch 81 employed on fish 80 aids in the proper distribution of air, for air tends to flow first into the fish 80 and only after the fish 80 has been inflated does air tend to flow through the tube 82 to the fish 60. Finally bubbles of excess air are discharged past the flap valve 6 and rise in contact with the incl ned surface 64, thereby propelling the fish 60 along, which in turn tows the fish 80 behind it. The fish 60 tends to swim in a wlde circle back toward the fisherman, probably owing to the restraining tension on tube 82 which is applied in front instead of in rear of the tube 62 of the fish 60. A considerable number of fish may be towed behind the first fish, so that the swimming of the first fish will cause the various fish to become distributed around in irregular fashion.

The fish may be modified for the perform ance of additional functions, if desired. In one sense it may be said that a simple inflatable toy such as the fish 80 in Fig. 4 has been modified to utilize the air supplied thereto, in the case of the fish 60 in Fig. 4, to provide propulsion of the fish. In Fig. 6 I have illustrated how the air may be utilized, in addition to inflating the fish, for blowing out of the mouth of the fish. causing a wake of waves or ripples. Considered more in detail, there is a fish 90, which might be rigid as well as collapsible, and which is provided with an air inlet nipple 92, and ballasted by a rearwardly disposed weight 94 so that the fish upon inflation will rise to the surface of the water and bob out of the water mouth first. The mouth of the fish is provided with a discharge tube 96 which is made of elastic rubber and pressed into fiat form at its extremity 98. This construction is best shown in the section of Fig. 6a.

The arrangement is such that, owing to the flatness of the tube 98 the discharge opening is sealed when the fish is under water,

and no air escapes, the pressure of the water serving to compress the sides of the flat tube together. However, after the fish has been inflated and has risen to the surface of the water the tube 98 comes above the surface of the water, and the pressure thereon is consequently relieved, as a result of which air begins to escape, and, OWlIlg to the sllght downward direction of the tube, the escaping air blows upon the surface of the water and causes a wake of waves or ripples, as is indicated at 100. The discharged air also serves to cause some backward propulsion of the toy, and causes it to oscillate or bob on the surface of the water in a realistic manner.

In Fig. 7 a fish 110 is illustrated which is similar to that described in Fig. 6 except that the mouth of this fish is provided with a whistle or other appropriate noise-making device 112, so that the fish makes a desired noise or sound after rising to the surface of the water. This noise begins instantly as the mouth of the fish noses or bobs out of the water, with amusing efi'ect.

It is obvious that the modifications illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 may be applied to a fish already equipped with propulsion means, such as the fish 2 in Fig. 1. the fish 40 in Fig. 3, or the fish 60 in Fig. 4, as well as to a simple submersible fish such as the fish 80 in Fig. 4. Also that modified toys resembling animals or objects other than fish mav be used, and that suitable noise-making or blowing devices and the like may be added go 1inch toys as well as to toys which simulate I find that the mode of bubble propulsion herein set forth operates with submerged toys as well as with toys which are floating on the surface of the water, and I therefore wish it to be understood that my invention is not intended to'be restricted tothe latter type of propulsion. For example, a toy fish may be made and so Weighted as to tend to float at a small distance under water. and this fish may be fitted with an inclined immersed surface for bubble propulsion. 'How- 'ever,.such 'an arrangement requires very careful balancing, anda much more simpleway to accomplish the same-effect is to make the fish heavier than water so that it tends to sink, or to use a simple celluloid fish which is perforated so that it may be filled with water and thereby tend to submerge. It mav then be suspended at the end of a. short piece of line from a float resembling that used by a fishermian on his line. In operation obviously the fish will tend to swim and incidentally drag the float with it, as well as the fisherman and boat, in an. arrangement like that of Fig. 1.

It willbe apparent that any source of compressed air might be used, rather than the 1,ass,ooo

simple inflatable bladder here disclosed, and that another gas than air may be employed, for example nitrogen or oxygen, should a compressed suppl of such a gas be available. It is also obvious t at the submersible to may be made in any number of forms, an may simulate various animals, or even a boot or shoe and the like, which the toy fisherman might be supposed to have caug t upon his hook. Various propulsion means may be employed, as for example, a simple backwardly directed discharge nozzle, and, if desired, the propulsion means may be dispensed with entirely. A fisherman need not be used, and if used, need not be placed in a boat, and also need not hold a fishing pole.

By employing aspropriately small sized interconnectlng an /or discharge tubes the air supply ma be kept up for a relatively long eriod 0 time even though it be obtaine from a simple inflatable bladder. Due to the back pressure of the water the air is ex elled and consumed only in intermittent ubbles. With practically no precaution at all the toys may be run for at least several minutes, and b using two air bladders in series and smal er bore tubing I have operated these. toys continuously for about an hour and a quarter.

It will be a parent that while I have shown and described my invention in the preferred forms, many changes and modifications may be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of'the invention, defined in the following claims.

. I claim:

1. A fisherman toy comprisin atoy simulating a fisherman, a submersibfie toy, a flexible tube simulating a fishing'lin'e extending from the fisherman to the submersible toy, and a source of gas connected to the tube in order to supply gas to the submerged toy to increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise to the surface of the water.

2. A fisherman toy comprising a toy simulating a fisherman holding a tube simulating a fishing lpole, a submersible toy, a flexible tube simu ating a fishing line extending from the end of the pole to the submersible toy, and a source of gas connected to the pole in order to supply gas to the submerged toy to inprease its buoyancy and cause it to rise to the surface of the water.

3. A fisherman toy chmprising a toy simulating a fisherman holding a tube simulating a fishing pole, a submersible toy simulating a fish, a flexible tube simulating afishing line extending from the end of the pole to the fish,- and a source of air connected to the pole in order to supply air to the fish to increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise to the surface of the water.

4. A fisherman toy comprisin lating a fisherman, a submersib e ible tube simulating a fishing line extending toy, a time from the fisherman to the submersible toy,

and an inflatable elastic air bladder connected to the tube in order to supply air to the submerged toy to increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise to the surface of the water.

5. A fisherman toy comprising a toy simulating a fisherman holding a tube simulating a fishing pole, a submersible toy simulating a fish, a flexible tube simulating a fishing line extendin from the end of the pole to the mouth 0 the fish, and an inflatable elastic air bladder connected to the pole in order to supply air to the fish to increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise to the surface of the water. 6. A fisherman toy comprising a toy simulating a fisherman, a submersible toy carryin propulsion means responsive to gas supplie thereto, a flexible tube simulating a fishing line extending from the fisherman to the submersible toy, and a gas supply source connected to the tube in order to supply gas to the submerged toy in order to increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise, and to propel it along.

7. A fisherman toy comprising a toy simulating a fisherman holding a tube simulating a fishing pole, a submersible toy simulating a fish and having propulsion means responsive to air supplied thereto, a flexible tube simulating a fishing line extending from the end of the pole to the mouth of the fish, a source of air connected to the pole in order to supply air to the fish to increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise to the surface of the water, and to propel it along thesurface of the water.

8. A fisherman toy comprising a toy simulating a boat carrying a fisherman holding a tube simulating a fishing pole, a submersible toy simulating a fish and having propulsion means responsive to air supplied thereto, a flexible tube simulating a fishing line extending from the end of the pole to the fish. a source of air connected to the pole in order to supply air to the fish to increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise to the surface-of the water, and to operate the propulsion means in order to propel it along the surface of the water, and tow the fisherman and boat therewith.

9. A fisherman toy comprising a toy simulating a boat carrying a fisherman holding a tube simulating a fishing pole, a submersible toy simulating a fish and having propulsion means responsive to air supplied thereto, a flexible tube simulating a fishing line extend ing from the end of the pole to the fish, an inflatable elastic air bladder connected to the pole in order to supply air to the fish to increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise to the surface of the water, and to propel it along the surface of the water, towing the fisherman and boat and bladder therewith.

10. A fisherman toy comprising a toy sim- 55 ulating a fisherman-holding a tube simulating a fishing pole, a submersible toy simulating a fish, said fish being provided with an inclined surface member and an air outlet therebeneath, a flexible tube simulating a fishing line extending from the end of the pole to the fish, a source of air connected to the pole in order to supply air to the fish to increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise to the surface of the water, and to discharge air bubbles from the outlet beneath the surface member in order to propel the fish along the surface of the water.

11. A fisherman toy comprising a toy simulating a boat carrying a fisherman holding a tube simulating a fishing pole, a submersible toy simulating a fish, said fish bein provided with an inclined inverted troug -like member and an air outlet therebeneath, a flexible tube simulating a fishing line extending from the end of the pole to the fish, a source of air connected to the pole in order to supply air to the fish to increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise to the surface of the water, and to discharge air bubbles from the outlet beneath the trough in order to propel the fish alon the surface of the water, and to tow the fisherman and boat therewith.

12. A fisherman toy com rising a toy simulating a boat carryin a fisherman holding a tube simulating a fishing pole, a submersi- 9| ble toy simulating a fish, said fish bein provided with an inclined inverted troug -1ike member and an air outlet therebeneath, a flexible tube simulating a fishing line extending from the end of the ole to the fish, an I! inflatable elastic air blad er connected to the pole in order to supply air to the fish to increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise to the surface of the water, and to discharge air bubbles from the outlet beneath the lower end II of the trough in order to propel the fish along the surface of the water, and to tow the fisherman and boat and bladder therewith.

13. A fisherman toy comprising a toy simulating a fisherman, a toy carrying propul- 11o sion means responsive to gas supplied thereto, a flexible tube simulating a fishing line, extending from the fisherman to the said toy, and a gas supply source connected to the tube in order to continuously supply gas to the 115 toy to put it in motion.

14. A fisherman toy comprising a toy simulating a fisherman holding a tube simulating a fishing pole, a \toy simulating a fish carrying propulsion means responsive to air 1:0 supplied thereto, a flexible tube simulating a fish line extending from the end of the pole to the fish, and a source of air connected to the pole in order to supply air to the fish to propel it along. 123

15. A fisherman toy comprising a toy simulating a boat carrying a fisherman, a toy simulating a fish and having propulsion means responsive to air supplied thereto, a flexible tube simulating a fishing line ex- 139 tending from the fisherman to the fish, a source of air connected to the end of the flexible tube at the fisherman in order to supply air to the fish to propel it and thereby to tow the fisherman and boat therewith.

16. A fisherman toy com rising a toy simulating a boat carrying a fisherman holding a tube simulating a fishing ole, a toy simulating a fish having propu sion means responsive to air supplied thereto, a flexible tube simulating a fishing line extending from the end of the pole to the fish, a source of air connected to the pole in order to supply air of June, A. D. 1929.

LEO RANNEY.

to the fish to propel it and thereby to tow the fisherman and boat therewith.

17. A fisherman toy comprising a toy simulating a boat carrying a fisherman, a submersible toy simulating a fish and havin propulsion means responsiveto air su pli thereto, a flexible tube simulating a s ing line extending from the fisherman to the fish, a source of air connected to the flexible tube in order to supply air to the fish to increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise in the water and to propel it along, thereby towing the fisherman and boat therewith.

18. A swimming toy comprising a fixed inclined immersed surface, and means to release air bubbles in the water at a point he neath said surface, said means including an inflatable elastic air bladder adapted to emit a continuous supply of air bubbles during its deflation, which air bubbles buoyantly rise and expand in contact with the inclined surface and thereby propel the toy.

19. A swimming toy com rising an inclined inverted trough-shape immersed surface located beneath the toy, and means to release air bubbles in the water at a point beneath said inverted trough-shaped surface, said means including an inflatable elastic air bladder adapted to emit a continuous supply of air bubbles during its deflation.

20. In combination, a floatable toy, a surface member secured to the bottom of the toy in an inclined position in the water, a sep arate source of continuous air supply, and a flexible tube connecting the source with the under side of the surface member so as to release a continuous stream of air bubbles in the water at a point beneath said member, which air bubbles buoyantly rise and expand in contact with the inclined surface and thereby propel the toy.

21. In combination, a floatable toy, an inverted trough-shaped member secured to the bottom of the toy in an inclined position in the water, a separate source of continuous air supply, and a flexible tube connecting the source with the lower end of the troughshaped member.

22. In combination, a floatable toy,.an inverted trough-shaped member secured to the bottom of the toy in an inclined position in the water, an inflatable elastic air bladder 

